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Saturday, October 22, 2016

Mullica Couple Charged with Endangering the Welfare of Child

MULLICA TOWNSHIP – A man and woman from Mullica Township were arrested this week for endangering the welfare of a child for whom they had a legal duty to provide care, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.

A six-month investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit and the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) resulted Thursday, October 13, 2016, in a direct presentment of the case to an Atlantic County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury indicted:

William Hilbert, a 36-year-old male, and

Brenda VanLeer, a 31-year-old female, who reside together on the 5200 block of the White Horse Pike in Mullica Twp, NJ, for:

Endangering the Welfare of a Child by Abuse or Neglect—a crime of the 2nd degree, and

Aggravated Assault of the 4-year-old female child—a 3rd degree crime.

On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, detectives of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and officers of the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Team arrested Hilbert and VanLeer on a warrant upon indictment at their home. The arrests were made without incident. Both were transported to the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, processed for the arrest, and lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on $50,000.00 cash or bond bail set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Bernard E. DeLury.

The victim was removed from the home early in the investigation, in March 2016, and placed with a foster family for her protection.

The State alleges that Hilbert and VanLeer caused injuries to the victim by striking her with objects on the body and head.

A conviction for a 2nd degree crime carries a potential penalty of 5-10 years of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison. The potential penalty of a 3rd degree conviction is 3-5 years of imprisonment.

Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children in Atlantic County is asked to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at: (609) 909-7800.

These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.